Wheeled toy with tin can body



Nov. 20, 1956 e. L. HICKS WHEELED TOY WITH TIN CAN BODY Filed March 8, 1954 I N V EN TOR. Gauge L. M'cks WHEELED TOY WITH TIN CAN BODY George L. Hicks, Prairie Village, Kans., assignor of onehalf to Roy E. Weinzettel, Overland Park, Kans.

Application March 8, 1954, Serial No. 414,557 2 Claims. or. 46 22 This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to the adaptation of used merchandise containers after the same have been emptied of their contents in connection with auxiliary parts to produce an inexpensive, yet useful and novel toy, capable of giving any child many hours of fun and pleasure.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a manufacturer with an added inducement to purchase of its merchandise through the provision of inexpensive, readily assembled auxiliary parts accompanying a package of canned merchandise, together with instructions permitting quick and ready formation of a series of wheeled toys that may be coupled together in successive procession.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a wheeled toy that may be made from an ordinary tin can after its merchandise has been removed, and which toy includes wheel and axle assemblies for rendering the can mobile, together with head, neck and tail members, all of which may be easily attached to the can after puncturing suitably placed openings therein through use of a conventional can opener.

Another object of this invention is the provision of erector parts accompanying the sale of a plurality of canned products, all initially in a disassembled condition and having a plurality of wheels and axles, together with the aforementioned tail, head and neck members which may be associated in operative relationship after the cans are emptied and openings formed therein to receive the axles, the neck member and the tail member.

Other objects include the way in which coupling elements are provided for pivotally interconnecting the several assembled toys in towed relationship to a primary toy simulating an animal; the way in which the animal-like toy is provided with an eyelet for receiving a towing cord; and the way in which the said neck member and the tail member are releasably interlocked within the can through the provision of a tail-receiving hole in the neck member.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, stretchedput view of a wheeled toy having a body formed from tin cans made pursuant to my present invention and illustrating the animal-like toy, as well as a secondary toy adapted for connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a side \elevational view on a reduced scale illustrating a pair of the toys operably interconnected.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the leading toy.

Fig. 4 is an inverted view of the assembly shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the lead toy.

The particular nature of the tin cans utilized in the present invention is of no particular consequence, since, as is well known, many products are so packaged and sold in many instances in sets of four or six, that are in turn grouped together in small cardboard containers. After the merchandise is used, the tin cans of the unit, as well as the carrier itself, are disposed of. Oftentimes the cans,

, United States Patent 0 "ice particularly when the same contain liquids such as juices,

are opened by puncturing one or more openings therein and the liquid poured from the can.

The present invention is predicated upon such common methods of merchandising and with this in mind, the

present invention contemplates the construction of a to form an opening 14 in one end 16 of can 12 through which the liquid contents of the can 12 are poured. Similarly, the said can opener is used to form a vent opening 18 in the end 16 of can 12, to facilitate pouring of the liquid through opening 14.

These openings and other openings similarly formed in the can 12, are utilized in producing the toy 10, and to this end a pair of spaced, front openings 20 and a pair,

of spaced rear openings 22 are formed in the cylindrical wall 24 of can 12 as best seen in Fig. 4. Still another triangular-shaped opening 26 is formed in wall 24 above' the openings 22 and adjacent the opposite end 28 of can 12 as shown in Fig. 1. v.

The openings 20 and 22 are adapted to receive wheel and axle assemblies, and to this end a front axle 30k extends through the openings 20 and has wheels 32 mounted on the ends thereof. Similarly, a rear axle 34 extends through the openings 22 and wheels 36 are' mounted on the ends of axle 34.

An elongated rod-like tail member 38 extends into the opening 26 and is provided with a cap 40 on the outermost end thereof. An elongated rod-like neck member 42 provided with a transverse hole 44, extends into the opening 14 to a position where 'hole 44 thereof receives the innermost end of the tail member 38.

The outermost end of the neck member 42 receives a head member by the provision of a socket (not shown) formed in the latter. Head member 46 may be formed so as to simulate the head of an animal, such as a dog, by having ears 48 attached thereto and a tongue 50 tacked or otherwise attached thereto. Colored yarn, cord or other flexible material is suggested as an inexpensive way of producing the ears 48 and the tongue 50. Eyes 52 may consist of a pair of colored thumb tacks mounted on the head 46. The opening 18 in end 16 conveniently receives an eyelet 54 in the nature of a spring clip to which may be attached a suitable towing cord, not shown.

Any number of similarly formed secondary units 56 may be produced in substantially the same manner, it being noted however, that the units 56 'are preferably devoid of head and neck members 46 and 42, and tail member 38 which is included in unit 10 so that the same simulates an animal. It is sufficient to point out that the secondary units 56 are provided with wheel and axle assemblies 58 and 68 formed and mounted in the same manner as the means for rendering the unit 10 mobile.

A pair of interlocked coupling elements 62 and 64 similar in nature to the eyelet 54, is used to pivotally interconnect the units 10 and S6 in procession, and to this end, the end wall 28 of can 12 is provided with a small opening 66 similar to opening 18 for receiving the spring clip 62, and end wall 68 of the unit 56 is provided with an opening 70 to receive the coupling means 64.

It is noteworthy at this juncture that virtually all of the component parts of the toy train shown in the drawing and above described, are initially separate and are mounted in assembled relationship, as shown in Figs. 2

and 4 without the use of any tools or other materials. Such component parts are preferably packaged with the carton of cans of merchandise and the manufacturer or retail dealer may also insert an instruction sheet explaining the manner of assembly which may take place as and after the contents of the cans are emptied.

Manifestly, the first step in the method of assembling is to form the various openings 20, 22, 26 and 66 in the can or body 12 after the contents of the can 12 have been poured through the opening 14. The axles 30 and 34 may thereupon be inserted through the openings 20 and 22 respectively, and the perforated wheels 32 and 36 mounted on the ends of the axles 30 and 34. To the end that the wheels 32 and 36 stay in place, the axles 30 and 34 are split at their ends as at 72. Cap 40 is then placed on the tail member 38 and the latter is inserted in the opening 26. Next, the head member 46 is mounted on the neck member 42 and the latter is inserted in the opening 14. Tail member 38 may be easily manipulated to insert the same through the hole 44. After inserting the eyelet 54 in the opening 18, a cord attached to the eyelet 54, will permit the child to pull the unit in the usual manner.

When a second can is opened, the unit 56 may be formed and by operably connecting the same with the unit 10 in towed relationship thereto through use of the coupling means 62 and 64, a train of toys is presented with the simulated animal as the engine or towing vehicle. Clearly any number of secondary units 56 may be provided in successive order and pivotally interconnected in procession.

Only the embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in the accompanying drawing has been explained in the foregoing specification, and since a multitude of modifications may be made to the article so illustrated and described, it is desired to be limited in the enjoyment of the invention only by the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

As an example, the specific form and appearance of the animal produced by adding elements to the emptied contained may be far removed from the appearance of the one shown in the drawing.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A wheeled figure toy comprising an elongated metal can having a cylindrical wall and a pair of closed ends, said wall being provided with a front pair of transversely spaced openings adjacent one end and a rear pair of transversely spaced openings adjacent the opposite end; axles extending through said openings; a pair of wheels on each axle respectively; an elongated tail member, said wall being provided at its top with an opening above said rear openings receiving said member; an elongated neck member, said one end of the can being provided with an opening receiving said neck member and the neck member extending for a substantial distance into the can; and a head member mounted on one end of the neck member exteriorly of the can, said neck member being provided with a hole adjacent the opposite end thereof, said tail member extending into said hole within said can to secure the assembly together.

2. For use with an elongated can having a tubular side wall and closed end walls, and having paired transversely spaced openings in the tubular wall adjacent the ends and an opening in the top of the tubular wall adjacent each end, a pair of axles adapted to extend through said paired openings and a pair of wheels adapted to press-fit each axle outside the can, an elongated neck member adapted to extend for a substantial distance into said can through one of the said top openings, and having a hole therethrough near its inner end, a head member having a socket therein for receiving the outer end of said neck member, and an elongated tail member adapted to be inserted into said can through the other of said top openings and into said hole, whereby to form an assembled wheeled figure toy.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,787,034 Burns a- Dec. 30, 1930 2,035,302 Decker Man 24, 1936 2,144,751 Brown Jan. 24, 1939 2,186,188 Allen Ian. 9, 1940 I FOREIGN PATENTS 768,940 France May 28, 1934 OTHER REFERENCES 420 Handcrafts Illustrated in Simple Steps," by Foreman, published 1949, page 7-h. 

